Chandigarh scribes demand Delhi police chief’s resignation

About 100 journalists staged a demonstration here on Wednesday criticising the alleged inaction of the Delhi Police in the case of attack on reporters by some lawyers on the court premises in the national capital recently. The protest was held under the banner of the Chandigarh Press Club.

Journalists taking part in a protest march in Chandigarh on Wednesday.(Ravi Kumar/HT Photo)

About 100 journalists staged a demonstration here on Wednesday criticising the alleged inaction of the Delhi Police in the case of attack on reporters by some lawyers on the court premises in the national capital recently. The protest was held under the banner of the Chandigarh Press Club.

Carrying placards and raising slogans, the journalists, who were on the way to Punjab Raj Bhawan, were stopped near Sector 7. The protestors demanded the resignation of Delhi police commissioner BS Bassi for the inaction of his staff, who remained silent spectators during the attack on the journalists.

The club’s governing council, led by president Balwinder Jammu and secretary general Nalin Acharya, later submitted a memorandum addressed to President Pranab Mukherjee through the Punjab and Haryana governor.

Jammu, who addressed the journalists at the club, demanded action against the accused who manhandled the journalists in the court complex. He said this was an attack on the freedom of expression.

“The Centre should act against the perpetrators of violence who tried to muzzle the voice of journalists, especially those on duty,” said Jammu.

The club governing council took strong note of another attack on a photo-journalist on Wednesday, saying: “It is the height of complicity of the Delhi Police. The police could not provide security to the journalists, despite a group of hooligans once again targeting mediapersons covering the proceedings of the JNU sedition case.”